Ram in the Thicket

Credit: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

This statuette, popularly known as the "ram in the thicket," is about 17 inches (42.5 cm) tall. It shows a goat jumping up on a flowering plant or tree…Read More »

and is one of two examples from the “great death pit” at Ur, which also contains the remains of 68 women and 6 men who appear to have been sacrificed. It is made of silver, shell, gold, lapis lazuli and carnelian and may have been used to support a small offering table. It dates to between 2650-2550 BC and is now part of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology collection. Less «

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Goat Peering Through the Thicket

Credit: Owen Jarus

A photo of the goat peering through the thicket. Its details are remarkably well preserved despite the passage of more than 4,500 years of time.

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King’s Grave Headdress

Credit: Copyright Trustees of the British Museum

This headdress, with gold leaf pendants and beads made of lapis lazuli and carnelian, is from the royal cemetery at Ur in Iraq and dates back to around…Read More »

2,500 BC. It was worn by one of many female attendants found in a tomb known as the “king’s grave.” The woman who wore this may have been sacrificed along with dozens of others. Less «

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Lapis Lazuli Collar from Death Pit

Credit: Owen Jarus

A collar consisting of gold and lapis lazuli from the great death pit at Ur. The item was worn by a woman who may have been sacrificed.

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Headdress and Necklace from Royal Cemetery

Credit: Owen Jarus

The headdress on the left is from the Ur royal cemetery. It is made of gold and lapis lazuli and would have been worn by a male. The necklace in the right…Read More »

is made of carnelian beads. It is also from Ur's royal cemetery and it has white etching, which was produced using a technique the Mesopotamians learned from the Indus Valley Civilization in South Asia. Less «

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Gold Cup with Long Snout

Credit: Copyright Trustees of the British Museum

Found in the death pit of Queen Puabi, at Ur, the long snout of this cup would have been used like a straw. Researchers say that it was probably used for…Read More »

drinking beer and its gold would have been imported from Iran or Turkey. Puabi may have ruled as a queen in her own right. Penn Museum researchers note that cuneiform inscriptions make no mention of her husband, something unusual in Mesopotamia. Less «

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Statue of Gudea

Credit: Courtesy Detroit Institute of Arts

This 16 inch (40 cm) statue dating between 2141 - 2122 BC depicts Gudea who ruled the city-state of Lagash. Researchers note that Gudea chose to be depicted…Read More »

in a humbler pose than other rulers of his day, perhaps to emphasize his religious piety. Less «

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Statue of King Ashurnasirpal II

Credit: Copyright Trustees of the British Museum

This statue of King Ashurnasirpal II, from the Temple of Ishtar at Nimrud, is more than 44 inches (113 cm) tall and dates to around 875-860 BC. Ashurnasirpal…Read More »

II consolidated the Assyrian Empire brutally. In one inscription he describes the torching of a city claiming to have “hung their [his enemies] heads on trees around the city.” An inscription on this particular statue describes him as “king of the universe” and this artifact is a rare example of an Assyrian sculpture in the round. Less «

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Close-Up of King Ashurnasirpal II Statue

Credit: Owen Jarus

A close-up of the king's head showing his intricately detailed beard.

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Dying Lion Relief

Credit: Owen Jarus

This relief of a stabbed and dying lion is from the north palace at Nineveh, dating to around 645-640 BC. It was originally part of a larger relief that…Read More »

showed the Assyrian King Ashurbanipal hunting lions from his chariot. Among the king’s military achievements was the defeat of the Egyptian pharaoh Taharqa, appointing a pro-Assyrian ruler in his place. Less «

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Dog Gypsum Relief

Credit: Owen Jarus

Part of a gypsum relief from the north palace at Nineveh. It shows a dog participating in a hunt.

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Ivory Head of Woman

Credit: Copyright Trustees of the British Museum

An ivory head of a woman wearing an Egyptian hairstyle found at Nimrud in a "burnt palace." It dates to the 9th-8th centuries BC and illustrates that a…Read More »

level of contact and influence existed between the ancient Assyrians and Egyptians at this time. Less «

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Bronze ‘Star Bowl’

Credit: Owen Jarus

This bronze "star bowl" is from the northwest palace at Nimrud and dates somewhere between the 9th-8th centuries BC. Museum researchers note that around…Read More »

the star are seven bands of tiny horned animals, either stags or goats, walking in a procession. They believe this bowl to have been made in Syria. Less «

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Assyrian King Ashurbanipal Statue

Credit: Owen Jarus

This statue depicts the Assyrian King Ashurbanipal carrying a basket of earth on his head. The relief and text depict the king as a builder, helping to…Read More »

rebuild Esagila, the temple of Marduk at Babylon. It dates to around 668 BC-655 BC. Less «

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Assyrian Assault Relief

Credit: Owen Jarus

This relief shows an assault on an enemy town undertaken by the Assyrians. It dates to somewhere between 730-727 BC. To the right an Assyrian "tank" of…Read More »

sort, perhaps made of leather, is aiding in the siege. Soldiers are also using siege ladders and archers are providing cover fire. Less «

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Assyrian Battle of Til-Tuba Relief

Credit: Owen Jarus

This image shows part of an Assyrian relief dating somewhere between 660-650 BC, which depicts a scene from the battle of Til-Tuba, where the Assyrians…Read More »

defeated the Iranian state of Elam. This scene shows the Elam king Teumman and his son surrounded by Assyrian soldiers. His son at right takes a bow and tries to defend against them. Less «

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Death of King Relief

Credit: Owen Jarus

The son's effort is in vain as Assyrian soldiers kill them both. They chop off the king's head, eventually carrying it away in a cart.

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Hillside Garden Relief

Credit: Owen Jarus

This image shows a hillside garden fed by aqueducts from the north palace at Nineveh with a statue of an Assyrian king at top. It dates somewhere between…Read More »

645-635 BC. Recent research suggests that, at a later time, Nineveh was the real site of the "Hanging Gardens" a wonder of the ancient world. Less «

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Striding Lion

Credit: Photo copyright Royal Ontario Museum

This relief of a striding lion is from the facade of a palace of King Nebuchadnezzar II (604-562 BC) at Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar II carved out an empire…Read More »

that extended from the Persian Gulf to the borders of Egypt. At Babylon itself he initiated a building program that saw the construction of three major palaces, the Ishtar Gate and many sanctuaries. This is part of the collection of the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto Canada. Less «

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Epic of Gilgamesh

Credit: Photo by Owen Jarus

Tablet VI of the Epic of Gilgamesh is from Nineveh and dates to the 7th century BC. The character Gilgamesh was a legendary Sumerian king of Uruk said…Read More »

to have lived around 2700 BC. Although there’s no evidence that he was a real person his adventures are considered some of the finest literary works ever composed in cuneiform. In this tablet the goddess Ishtar tries to seduce Gilgamesh and, when he refuses, she unleashes the bull of heaven in anger, forcing Gilgamesh and his companion Enkidu to kill it. Less «

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Author Bio

Owen Jarus

Owen Jarus writes about archaeology and all things about humans' past for Live Science. Owen has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Toronto and a journalism degree from Ryerson University. He enjoys reading about new research and is always looking for a new historical tale.